name change ?

[usmcfamily]

What is your state? North Carolina
Okay - I realize that no one here holds a crystal ball BUT I have a ? and would like an educated guess as to the chances of success for a particular situation..........
My daughter has, over the last 16 months or so, become increasingly upset over the fact that she still carries my maiden name but myself, my DH and our son all have my married name (of course.... ). When she was born her "father" was not present and refused to acknowledge paternity -- I gave her my name. When paternity was proven he was angry over being ordered to support and so didn't bother to address the name issue then either. Fast forward 6 years - she carries my maiden name but wants to have the same name as her "family" (meaning us here in NC with whom she lives full time) and I can understand her feelings.
Anyway - my ? is in cases where the NCP contests the name change and it comes down to a hearing to determine what should be done is the usual outcome a change or no change? I would be a bit more understanding of his objections if we were trying to change the name from HIS name to OUR name but it is from my OLD name to my NEW name - it is at my daughters request (repeated - I have put off starting an issue over this w/him for 16 months hoping she would forget about it but she hasn't - it has only gotten more pressing) and she already chooses to use the name she wants when people ask her who she is. Psychologically I would think it would be more beneficial to her to have the same name as those she resides with so that it reduces the feelings of "not fitting in" where her baby brother is concerned and with friends who ask her why she has a different name (yes, they ask at 6 years of age).
Does gender every play a part - I only ask because as a girl it is likely that her name will change someday anyway but if she were a son then she would carry her name forever and that, to me, would make more sense for it to be denied because of the whole "carrying on a name" issue he could use as a point of contest.......
Thank you for any input - especially if there is anyone here who has been through something similar.........

 

[if it was me]

Same situation

I have been in this exact situation and it was a process of hiring an attorney having my son's '' father'' sighn over all his parental rights, then asking the court to allow my husband to adopt my son and give him his last name. we were able to get this all done but we were told it would not be possible unless '' dad '' was willing to give up his rights first, which he was more than happy to do sense it meant more money for him once he was not having to pay child support any longer [ he never paid on time always months behind ] god how do we fall for someone who later turns out to be the biggest ''LOOSER ''. MAYBE THIS WILL HELP I WISH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GOOD LUCK.